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Groups > sci.physics.relativity > #376988 > unrolled thread

Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution

Started byJanPB <filmart@gmail.com>
First post2016-02-23 17:05 -0800
Last post2016-02-26 15:02 -0800
Articles 20 on this page of 134 — 18 participants

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Contents

  Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution JanPB <filmart@gmail.com> - 2016-02-23 17:05 -0800
    Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution Koobee Wublee <koobee.wublee@gmail.com> - 2016-02-23 22:28 -0800
      Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution JanPB <filmart@gmail.com> - 2016-02-23 22:47 -0800
        Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution Koobee Wublee <koobee.wublee@gmail.com> - 2016-02-23 23:01 -0800
          Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution JanPB <filmart@gmail.com> - 2016-02-23 23:04 -0800
            Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution Koobee Wublee <koobee.wublee@gmail.com> - 2016-02-23 23:27 -0800
              Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution JanPB <filmart@gmail.com> - 2016-02-23 23:28 -0800
                Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution Koobee Wublee <koobee.wublee@gmail.com> - 2016-02-23 23:40 -0800
                  Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution JanPB <filmart@gmail.com> - 2016-02-24 00:21 -0800
                    Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution Maciej Woźniak <mlwozniak@wp.pl> - 2016-02-24 10:39 +0100
                    Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution Koobee Wublee <koobee.wublee@gmail.com> - 2016-02-24 12:59 -0800
                      Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution David Waite <waitedavid1618@yahoo.com> - 2016-02-24 13:12 -0800
                  Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution Odd Bodkin <bodkinodd@gmail.com> - 2016-02-24 08:46 -0600
                  Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution "Paul B. Andersen" <relativity@paulba.no> - 2016-02-24 19:54 +0100
              Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution David Waite <waitedavid1618@yahoo.com> - 2016-02-24 01:20 -0800
                Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution David Waite <waitedavid1618@yahoo.com> - 2016-02-24 01:39 -0800
                  Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution Maciej Woźniak <mlwozniak@wp.pl> - 2016-02-24 11:12 +0100
              Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution Odd Bodkin <bodkinodd@gmail.com> - 2016-02-24 08:37 -0600
    Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution "Dono," <sa_ge@comcast.net> - 2016-02-24 07:16 -0800
      Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution Koobee Wublee <koobee.wublee@gmail.com> - 2016-02-24 22:31 -0800
        Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution "Dono," <sa_ge@comcast.net> - 2016-02-25 06:30 -0800
        Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution JanPB <filmart@gmail.com> - 2016-02-25 09:11 -0800
          Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution Koobee Wublee <koobee.wublee@gmail.com> - 2016-02-25 16:13 -0800
        Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution David Waite <waitedavid1618@yahoo.com> - 2016-02-25 09:38 -0800
          Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution PC <pc468@hotmail.com> - 2016-02-25 17:44 +0000
            Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution David Waite <waitedavid1618@yahoo.com> - 2016-02-25 09:50 -0800
              Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution Odd Bodkin <bodkinodd@gmail.com> - 2016-02-25 11:51 -0600
                Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution David Waite <waitedavid1618@yahoo.com> - 2016-02-25 09:57 -0800
                  Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution Odd Bodkin <bodkinodd@gmail.com> - 2016-02-25 12:05 -0600
                    Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution David Waite <waitedavid1618@yahoo.com> - 2016-02-25 10:19 -0800
                  Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution PC <pc468@hotmail.com> - 2016-02-25 18:13 +0000
                    Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution David Waite <waitedavid1618@yahoo.com> - 2016-02-25 10:21 -0800
                Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution PC <pc468@hotmail.com> - 2016-02-25 18:05 +0000
        Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution David Waite <waitedavid1618@yahoo.com> - 2016-02-25 09:48 -0800
        Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution Jackpol11@hotmail.com - 2016-02-25 14:06 -0500
          Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution JanPB <filmart@gmail.com> - 2016-02-25 12:35 -0800
            Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution PC <pc468@hotmail.com> - 2016-02-25 21:44 +0000
            Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution Jackpol11@hotmail.com - 2016-02-25 17:37 -0500
              Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution JanPB <filmart@gmail.com> - 2016-02-25 15:11 -0800
                Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution PC <pc468@hotmail.com> - 2016-02-26 12:44 +0000
                  Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution David Waite <waitedavid1618@yahoo.com> - 2016-02-26 06:57 -0800
                    Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution PC <pc468@hotmail.com> - 2016-02-26 14:59 +0000
                      Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution Gary Harnagel <hitlong@yahoo.com> - 2016-02-26 07:36 -0800
                        Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution PC <pc468@hotmail.com> - 2016-02-26 18:45 +0000
                      Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution David Waite <waitedavid1618@yahoo.com> - 2016-02-26 07:37 -0800
                        Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution PC <pc468@hotmail.com> - 2016-02-26 19:36 +0000
                    Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution David Waite <waitedavid1618@yahoo.com> - 2016-02-26 07:50 -0800
                      Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution PC <pc468@hotmail.com> - 2016-02-26 18:47 +0000
                      Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution JanPB <filmart@gmail.com> - 2016-02-26 11:44 -0800
            Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution Koobee Wublee <koobee.wublee@gmail.com> - 2016-02-25 15:47 -0800
              Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution JanPB <filmart@gmail.com> - 2016-02-25 16:00 -0800
                Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution Koobee Wublee <koobee.wublee@gmail.com> - 2016-02-25 16:09 -0800
                  Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution Odd Bodkin <bodkinodd@gmail.com> - 2016-02-25 18:29 -0600
                    Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution Koobee Wublee <koobee.wublee@gmail.com> - 2016-02-25 18:43 -0800
                    Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution Thomas 'PointedEars' Lahn <PointedEars@web.de> - 2016-02-26 23:04 +0100
                      Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution JanPB <filmart@gmail.com> - 2016-02-26 14:59 -0800
                        Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution Koobee Wublee <koobee.wublee@gmail.com> - 2016-02-26 16:19 -0800
                        Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution Thomas 'PointedEars' Lahn <PointedEars@web.de> - 2016-02-27 10:27 +0100
                          Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution JanPB <filmart@gmail.com> - 2016-02-27 17:55 -0800
                            Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution Thomas 'PointedEars' Lahn <PointedEars@web.de> - 2016-02-28 12:13 +0100
                              Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution Emigdio Sophronius <emigg@augustvisitors.org> - 2016-02-28 11:37 +0000
                                Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution Thomas 'PointedEars' Lahn <PointedEars@web.de> - 2016-02-28 12:56 +0100
                                  Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution David Waite <waitedavid1618@yahoo.com> - 2016-02-28 08:03 -0800
                                    Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution Thomas 'PointedEars' Lahn <PointedEars@web.de> - 2016-02-28 18:13 +0100
                                      Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution Thomas 'PointedEars' Lahn <PointedEars@web.de> - 2016-02-28 18:26 +0100
                                        Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution David Waite <waitedavid1618@yahoo.com> - 2016-02-28 09:36 -0800
                                          Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution Thomas 'PointedEars' Lahn <PointedEars@web.de> - 2016-02-28 18:50 +0100
                                            Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution David Waite <waitedavid1618@yahoo.com> - 2016-02-28 09:54 -0800
                                              Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution Thomas 'PointedEars' Lahn <PointedEars@web.de> - 2016-02-28 20:40 +0100
                                                Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution Emigdio Sophronius <emigg@augustvisitors.org> - 2016-02-28 19:44 +0000
                                                  Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution David Waite <waitedavid1618@yahoo.com> - 2016-02-28 12:20 -0800
                                                    Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution Emigdio Sophronius <emigg@augustvisitors.org> - 2016-02-28 20:58 +0000
                                                      Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution David Waite <waitedavid1618@yahoo.com> - 2016-02-28 13:02 -0800
                                                Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution David Waite <waitedavid1618@yahoo.com> - 2016-02-28 12:31 -0800
                                                Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution David Waite <waitedavid1618@yahoo.com> - 2016-02-29 22:40 -0800
                                            Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution David Waite <waitedavid1618@yahoo.com> - 2016-02-28 10:54 -0800
                              Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution David Waite <waitedavid1618@yahoo.com> - 2016-02-28 07:30 -0800
                                Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution Thomas 'PointedEars' Lahn <PointedEars@web.de> - 2016-02-28 17:46 +0100
                                  Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution David Waite <waitedavid1618@yahoo.com> - 2016-02-28 08:51 -0800
                                  Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution Emigdio Sophronius <emigg@augustvisitors.org> - 2016-02-28 17:01 +0000
                              Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution David Waite <waitedavid1618@yahoo.com> - 2016-02-28 07:34 -0800
                                Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution Tom Roberts <tjroberts137@sbcglobal.net> - 2016-03-03 15:15 -0600
                                  Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution David Waite <waitedavid1618@yahoo.com> - 2016-03-03 19:54 -0800
                              Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution David Waite <waitedavid1618@yahoo.com> - 2016-02-28 08:48 -0800
                                Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution David Fuller <fuller.david@hotmail.com> - 2016-02-28 09:13 -0800
                                  Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution David Waite <waitedavid1618@yahoo.com> - 2016-02-28 10:09 -0800
                                    Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution David Fuller <fuller.david@hotmail.com> - 2016-03-06 10:56 -0800
                                Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution Thomas 'PointedEars' Lahn <PointedEars@web.de> - 2016-02-28 18:19 +0100
                                  Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution David Waite <waitedavid1618@yahoo.com> - 2016-02-28 09:24 -0800
                                    Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution Thomas 'PointedEars' Lahn <PointedEars@web.de> - 2016-02-28 18:34 +0100
                                      Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution David Waite <waitedavid1618@yahoo.com> - 2016-02-28 09:44 -0800
                                        Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution Thomas 'PointedEars' Lahn <PointedEars@web.de> - 2016-02-28 19:12 +0100
                                          Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution David Waite <waitedavid1618@yahoo.com> - 2016-02-28 10:19 -0800
                                          Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution David Waite <waitedavid1618@yahoo.com> - 2016-02-28 11:17 -0800
                              Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution JanPB <filmart@gmail.com> - 2016-03-01 17:06 -0800
                                Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution Koobee Wublee <koobee.wublee@gmail.com> - 2016-03-01 17:54 -0800
                                  Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution JanPB <filmart@gmail.com> - 2016-03-01 19:41 -0800
                                Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution Thomas 'PointedEars' Lahn <PointedEars@web.de> - 2016-03-04 01:17 +0100
                                  Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution JanPB <filmart@gmail.com> - 2016-03-03 17:12 -0800
                                    Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution Koobee Wublee <koobee.wublee@gmail.com> - 2016-03-03 17:53 -0800
                                    Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution Tom Roberts <tjroberts137@sbcglobal.net> - 2016-03-03 22:19 -0600
                                      Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution JanPB <filmart@gmail.com> - 2016-03-03 21:36 -0800
                                        Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution Tom Roberts <tjroberts137@sbcglobal.net> - 2016-03-10 11:14 -0600
                                          Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution Maciej Woźniak <mlwozniak@wp.pl> - 2016-03-10 18:32 +0100
                                          Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution Luigi Durante <luigdu@jaccappo.org> - 2016-03-10 20:22 +0000
                                            Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution JanPB <filmart@gmail.com> - 2016-03-10 13:02 -0800
                                              Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution Luigi Durante <luigdu@jaccappo.org> - 2016-03-10 21:08 +0000
                                                Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution JanPB <filmart@gmail.com> - 2016-03-10 13:19 -0800
                                                  Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution Luigi Durante <luigdu@jaccappo.org> - 2016-03-10 21:27 +0000
                                                    Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution JanPB <filmart@gmail.com> - 2016-03-10 14:04 -0800
                                                      Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution "Paul B. Andersen" <relativity@paulba.no> - 2016-03-11 13:33 +0100
                                              Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution Maciej Woźniak <mlwozniak@wp.pl> - 2016-03-10 22:49 +0100
                                                Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution JanPB <filmart@gmail.com> - 2016-03-10 14:20 -0800
                                    Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution Thomas 'PointedEars' Lahn <PointedEars@web.de> - 2016-03-05 05:24 +0100
                                      Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution JanPB <filmart@gmail.com> - 2016-03-04 21:36 -0800
                                        Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution Koobee Wublee <koobee.wublee@gmail.com> - 2016-03-04 22:50 -0800
                                        Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution Thomas 'PointedEars' Lahn <PointedEars@web.de> - 2016-03-05 11:24 +0100
                                          Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution JanPB <filmart@gmail.com> - 2016-03-05 20:07 -0800
                              Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution Tom Roberts <tjroberts137@sbcglobal.net> - 2016-03-03 14:49 -0600
                                Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution Helénē Swanhild <helenes@gardenclosure.org> - 2016-03-03 21:40 +0000
                                  Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution Tom Roberts <tjroberts137@sbcglobal.net> - 2016-03-03 18:58 -0600
                                Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution JanPB <filmart@gmail.com> - 2016-03-03 14:04 -0800
                                Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution Koobee Wublee <koobee.wublee@gmail.com> - 2016-03-03 17:46 -0800
                                  Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution Tom Roberts <tjroberts137@sbcglobal.net> - 2016-03-03 22:21 -0600
                  Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution JanPB <filmart@gmail.com> - 2016-02-25 16:42 -0800
                  Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution "Paul B. Andersen" <relativity@paulba.no> - 2016-02-26 20:00 +0100
                    Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution PC <pc468@hotmail.com> - 2016-02-26 19:03 +0000
    Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution John Gogo <jfgogo22@yahoo.com> - 2016-02-25 19:36 -0800
    Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution alsor@interia.pl - 2016-02-26 09:36 -0800
      Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution JanPB <filmart@gmail.com> - 2016-02-26 11:33 -0800
        Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution alsor@interia.pl - 2016-02-26 12:05 -0800
          Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution JanPB <filmart@gmail.com> - 2016-02-26 12:47 -0800
            Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution alsor@interia.pl - 2016-02-26 14:16 -0800
              Re: Schwarzschild's paper and the uniqueness of the solution JanPB <filmart@gmail.com> - 2016-02-26 15:02 -0800

Page 6 of 7 — ← Prev page 1 2 3 4 5 [6] 7  Next page →


#377855

FromTom Roberts <tjroberts137@sbcglobal.net>
Date2016-03-03 22:19 -0600
Message-ID<t-udnYxLEspHkUTLnZ2dnUU7_83NnZ2d@giganews.com>
In reply to#377846
On 3/3/16 3/3/16   7:12 PM, JanPB wrote:
> On Thursday, March 3, 2016 at 4:17:02 PM UTC-8, Thomas 'PointedEars' Lahn wrote:
>> [about ds^2]
>
> You said it was a scalar. So it must be a well-defined number at each point
> of the sphere.

He said it is a scalar, not a scalar FIELD on the sphere.

In the physicists' usage of the line element, ds^2 for any given pair of 
infinitesimally-separated points is indeed a scalar (i.e. has the same value 
when computed in any coordinate system). It is definitely NOT a scalar field.


You two are trying very hard to find a disagreement and argument, when you 
actually agree on all the major points of geometry and physics; only your 
notations and nomenclature are different.


Tom Roberts

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#377861

FromJanPB <filmart@gmail.com>
Date2016-03-03 21:36 -0800
Message-ID<e268942d-03e8-4d43-aeb2-1bf8aaf9ad3a@googlegroups.com>
In reply to#377855
On Thursday, March 3, 2016 at 8:19:41 PM UTC-8, tjrob137 wrote:
> On 3/3/16 3/3/16   7:12 PM, JanPB wrote:
> > On Thursday, March 3, 2016 at 4:17:02 PM UTC-8, Thomas 'PointedEars' Lahn wrote:
> >> [about ds^2]
> >
> > You said it was a scalar. So it must be a well-defined number at each point
> > of the sphere.
> 
> He said it is a scalar, not a scalar FIELD on the sphere.
> 
> In the physicists' usage of the line element, ds^2 for any given pair of 
> infinitesimally-separated points is indeed a scalar (i.e. has the same value 
> when computed in any coordinate system). It is definitely NOT a scalar field.

Problem is, there is no such thing as "pair of infinitesimally-separated points". It's
either a metaphor or a tangent vector. And, of course, ds^2 evaluated at a tangent
vector is a number.

> You two are trying very hard to find a disagreement and argument, when you 
> actually agree on all the major points of geometry and physics; only your 
> notations and nomenclature are different.

Only trying to point out that the "infinitesimal" concept is ill-defined (always
has been) and today (well, for many decades now) there is no need to insist
on its literal meaning.

--
Jan

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#378486

FromTom Roberts <tjroberts137@sbcglobal.net>
Date2016-03-10 11:14 -0600
Message-ID<0aKdnTBtXYv6NnzLnZ2dnUU7_8zNnZ2d@giganews.com>
In reply to#377861
On 3/3/16 3/3/16   11:36 PM, JanPB wrote:
> On Thursday, March 3, 2016 at 8:19:41 PM UTC-8, tjrob137 wrote:
>> On 3/3/16 3/3/16   7:12 PM, JanPB wrote:
>>> On Thursday, March 3, 2016 at 4:17:02 PM UTC-8, Thomas 'PointedEars' Lahn wrote:
>>>> [about ds^2]
>>>
>>> You said it was a scalar. So it must be a well-defined number at each point
>>> of the sphere.
>>
>> He said it is a scalar, not a scalar FIELD on the sphere.
>>
>> In the physicists' usage of the line element, ds^2 for any given pair of
>> infinitesimally-separated points is indeed a scalar (i.e. has the same value
>> when computed in any coordinate system). It is definitely NOT a scalar field.
>
> Problem is, there is no such thing as "pair of infinitesimally-separated points". It's
> either a metaphor or a tangent vector. And, of course, ds^2 evaluated at a tangent
> vector is a number.

Yes, mathematicians are concerned with such issues.

Physicists are not, and the issues you raise are not important in physics, 
because our manifolds are all well behaved and we don't insist on strict 
mathematical rigor. The usual line element _CAN_ be used to integrate distance 
along a line (path), and it _CAN_ be used to read off the metric components in 
the coordinates used. (IMHO this last is its primary use: as a succinct 
statement of the metric components.)

Physicists' use of the line element became established well before the issues 
you raise were generally recognized. There's no need for physicists' usage of 
this to change, though it is certainly possible to use it as you say.


Tom Roberts

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#378487

FromMaciej Woźniak <mlwozniak@wp.pl>
Date2016-03-10 18:32 +0100
Message-ID<nbsb4j$48g$1@node1.news.atman.pl>
In reply to#378486

Użytkownik "Tom Roberts"  napisał w wiadomości grup 
dyskusyjnych:0aKdnTBtXYv6NnzLnZ2dnUU7_8zNnZ2d@giganews.com...

|Yes, mathematicians are concerned with such issues.
|Physicists are not, and the issues you raise are not important in physics,
|because

Because common sense is a set of prejudices!!!!! Yahoooooo!!!!!

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#378504

FromLuigi Durante <luigdu@jaccappo.org>
Date2016-03-10 20:22 +0000
Message-ID<nbsl1h$1reb$1@gioia.aioe.org>
In reply to#378486
Tom Roberts wrote:

> On 3/3/16 3/3/16   11:36 PM, JanPB wrote:
>> Problem is, there is no such thing as "pair of
>> infinitesimally-separated points". It's either a metaphor or a tangent
>> vector. And, of course, ds^2 evaluated at a tangent vector is a number.
> 
> Yes, mathematicians are concerned with such issues.
> Physicists are not, and the issues you raise are not important in
> physics, because our manifolds are all well behaved and we don't insist
> on strict mathematical rigor. The usual line element _CAN_ be used to
> integrate distance along a line (path), and it _CAN_ be used to read off
> the metric components in the coordinates used. (IMHO this last is its
> primary use: as a succinct statement of the metric components.)
> Physicists' use of the line element became established well before the
> issues you raise were generally recognized. There's no need for
> physicists' usage of this to change, though it is certainly possible to
> use it as you say. Tom Roberts

You are too kind, mister Tom, not saying he talks nonsense. As he thinks 
that two infinitesimally separated points on a sphere are connected by a 
tangent, lol. A mathematical impossibility, no? Ok.

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#378512

FromJanPB <filmart@gmail.com>
Date2016-03-10 13:02 -0800
Message-ID<632cbe96-46cf-4646-ac83-7353c1262995@googlegroups.com>
In reply to#378504
On Thursday, March 10, 2016 at 12:22:13 PM UTC-8, Luigi Durante wrote:
> Tom Roberts wrote:
> 
> > On 3/3/16 3/3/16   11:36 PM, JanPB wrote:
> >> Problem is, there is no such thing as "pair of
> >> infinitesimally-separated points". It's either a metaphor or a tangent
> >> vector. And, of course, ds^2 evaluated at a tangent vector is a number.
> > 
> > Yes, mathematicians are concerned with such issues.
> > Physicists are not, and the issues you raise are not important in
> > physics, because our manifolds are all well behaved and we don't insist
> > on strict mathematical rigor. The usual line element _CAN_ be used to
> > integrate distance along a line (path), and it _CAN_ be used to read off
> > the metric components in the coordinates used. (IMHO this last is its
> > primary use: as a succinct statement of the metric components.)
> > Physicists' use of the line element became established well before the
> > issues you raise were generally recognized. There's no need for
> > physicists' usage of this to change, though it is certainly possible to
> > use it as you say. Tom Roberts
> 
> You are too kind, mister Tom, not saying he talks nonsense. As he thinks 
> that two infinitesimally separated points on a sphere are connected by a 
> tangent, lol. A mathematical impossibility, no? Ok.

Newsflash: that's not what I said. What I said was:

1. "two infinitesimally separated points" is a metaphor, it's not valid
mathematics. That metaphor is _very_ useful provided you have enough
experience to know how to work with it correctly,

2. the legal, correct, mathematical object that represents that metaphor
is the tangent vector. That vector obviously does not "connect" any
"two points" on the sphere.

--
Jan

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#378513

FromLuigi Durante <luigdu@jaccappo.org>
Date2016-03-10 21:08 +0000
Message-ID<nbsnor$1vpc$1@gioia.aioe.org>
In reply to#378512
JanPB wrote:

>> You are too kind, mister Tom, not saying he talks nonsense. As he
>> thinks that two infinitesimally separated points on a sphere are
>> connected by a tangent, lol. A mathematical impossibility, no? Ok.
> 
> Newsflash: that's not what I said. What I said was:
> 
> 1. "two infinitesimally separated points" is a metaphor, it's not valid
> mathematics. That metaphor is _very_ useful provided you have enough
> experience to know how to work with it correctly,
> 
> 2. the legal, correct, mathematical object that represents that metaphor
> is the tangent vector. That vector obviously does not "connect" any "two
> points" on the sphere.

Apparently you contradict yourself again.

1. "two infinitesimally separated points" is a metaphor,
2.  that metaphor is the tangent vector

3. "two infinitesimally separated points" = "the tangent vector"

Well, how not? Or is us incapable to read and simplify, no? Ok.

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#378516

FromJanPB <filmart@gmail.com>
Date2016-03-10 13:19 -0800
Message-ID<e59a8c76-fe79-4f31-8864-63d68ad5646b@googlegroups.com>
In reply to#378513
On Thursday, March 10, 2016 at 1:08:47 PM UTC-8, Luigi Durante wrote:
> JanPB wrote:
> 
> >> You are too kind, mister Tom, not saying he talks nonsense. As he
> >> thinks that two infinitesimally separated points on a sphere are
> >> connected by a tangent, lol. A mathematical impossibility, no? Ok.
> > 
> > Newsflash: that's not what I said. What I said was:
> > 
> > 1. "two infinitesimally separated points" is a metaphor, it's not valid
> > mathematics. That metaphor is _very_ useful provided you have enough
> > experience to know how to work with it correctly,
> > 
> > 2. the legal, correct, mathematical object that represents that metaphor
> > is the tangent vector. That vector obviously does not "connect" any "two
> > points" on the sphere.
> 
> Apparently you contradict yourself again.
> 
> 1. "two infinitesimally separated points" is a metaphor,
> 2.  that metaphor is the tangent vector
> 
> 3. "two infinitesimally separated points" = "the tangent vector"
> 
> Well, how not? Or is us incapable to read and simplify, no? Ok.

Looks like you are more interesting in arguing than actually reading
what I wrote. OK, one more time (only):

Your (1) above is a correct interpretation of what I wrote.
(2) and (3) are not.

I said tangent vector represents the metaphor (i.e., its an actual
mathematical object which behaves exactly as one would _expect_ the
metaphor to behave (if it was a real object)).

And of course there is no such equality as (3) because the LHS doesn't exist
(it's a metaphor).

--
Jan

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#378518

FromLuigi Durante <luigdu@jaccappo.org>
Date2016-03-10 21:27 +0000
Message-ID<nbsosb$tb$3@gioia.aioe.org>
In reply to#378516
JanPB wrote:

> On Thursday, March 10, 2016 at 1:08:47 PM UTC-8, Luigi Durante wrote:
>> JanPB wrote:
>> 
>> >> You are too kind, mister Tom, not saying he talks nonsense. As he
>> >> thinks that two infinitesimally separated points on a sphere are
>> >> connected by a tangent, lol. A mathematical impossibility, no? Ok.
>> > 
>> > Newsflash: that's not what I said. What I said was:
>> > 
>> > 1. "two infinitesimally separated points" is a metaphor, it's not
>> > valid mathematics. That metaphor is _very_ useful provided you have
>> > enough experience to know how to work with it correctly,
>> > 
>> > 2. the legal, correct, mathematical object that represents that
>> > metaphor is the tangent vector. That vector obviously does not
>> > "connect" any "two points" on the sphere.
>> 
>> Apparently you contradict yourself again.
>> 
>> 1. "two infinitesimally separated points" is a metaphor,
>> 2.  that metaphor is the tangent vector
>> 
>> 3. "two infinitesimally separated points" = "the tangent vector"
>> 
>> Well, how not? Or is us incapable to read and simplify, no? Ok.
> 
> Looks like you are more interesting in arguing than actually reading
> what I wrote. OK, one more time (only):

Not at all, you feels cornered. Admit it and let's talk about something 
else

> 
> Your (1) above is a correct interpretation of what I wrote.
> (2) and (3) are not.

2. ".. that metaphor is the tangent vector."

3. is perfect, mathematically.

> I said tangent vector represents the metaphor (i.e., its an actual
> mathematical object which behaves exactly as one would _expect_ the
> metaphor to behave (if it was a real object)).
> And of course there is no such equality as (3) because the LHS doesn't
> exist (it's a metaphor).

It is, not? Ok.

WORLD EXCLUSIVE-DAVID CAMERON TO COME OUT AS TRANSGENDER 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnRZjb4GkDE

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#378521

FromJanPB <filmart@gmail.com>
Date2016-03-10 14:04 -0800
Message-ID<66c9713f-ef59-4ff6-a03b-6c469299b902@googlegroups.com>
In reply to#378518
On Thursday, March 10, 2016 at 1:27:43 PM UTC-8, Luigi Durante wrote:
> JanPB wrote:
> 
> > On Thursday, March 10, 2016 at 1:08:47 PM UTC-8, Luigi Durante wrote:
> >> JanPB wrote:
> >> 
> >> >> You are too kind, mister Tom, not saying he talks nonsense. As he
> >> >> thinks that two infinitesimally separated points on a sphere are
> >> >> connected by a tangent, lol. A mathematical impossibility, no? Ok.
> >> > 
> >> > Newsflash: that's not what I said. What I said was:
> >> > 
> >> > 1. "two infinitesimally separated points" is a metaphor, it's not
> >> > valid mathematics. That metaphor is _very_ useful provided you have
> >> > enough experience to know how to work with it correctly,
> >> > 
> >> > 2. the legal, correct, mathematical object that represents that
> >> > metaphor is the tangent vector. That vector obviously does not
> >> > "connect" any "two points" on the sphere.
> >> 
> >> Apparently you contradict yourself again.
> >> 
> >> 1. "two infinitesimally separated points" is a metaphor,
> >> 2.  that metaphor is the tangent vector
> >> 
> >> 3. "two infinitesimally separated points" = "the tangent vector"
> >> 
> >> Well, how not? Or is us incapable to read and simplify, no? Ok.
> > 
> > Looks like you are more interesting in arguing than actually reading
> > what I wrote. OK, one more time (only):
> 
> Not at all, you feels cornered.

I'm glad I defeated you.

--
Jan

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#378568

From"Paul B. Andersen" <relativity@paulba.no>
Date2016-03-11 13:33 +0100
Message-ID<nbudpi$ht9$1@dont-email.me>
In reply to#378521
On 10.03.2016 23:04, JanPB wrote:
> On Thursday, March 10, 2016 at 1:27:43 PM UTC-8, Luigi Durante wrote:
>>
>> Not at all, you feels cornered.
>
> I'm glad I defeated you.
>
> --
> Jan
>

Why do you take the bait of this trolling nym-shifter?
Wasn't the line too obvious to miss?

-- 
Paul

https://paulba.no/

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#378520

FromMaciej Woźniak <mlwozniak@wp.pl>
Date2016-03-10 22:49 +0100
Message-ID<nbsq69$kmg$1@node1.news.atman.pl>
In reply to#378512

Użytkownik "JanPB"  napisał w wiadomości grup 
dyskusyjnych:632cbe96-46cf-4646-ac83-7353c1262995@googlegroups.com...


> > Yes, mathematicians are concerned with such issues.
> > Physicists are not, and the issues you raise are not important in
> > physics, because our manifolds are all well behaved and we don't insist
> > on strict mathematical rigor. The usual line element _CAN_ be used to
> > integrate distance along a line (path), and it _CAN_ be used to read off
> > the metric components in the coordinates used. (IMHO this last is its
> > primary use: as a succinct statement of the metric components.)
> > Physicists' use of the line element became established well before the
> > issues you raise were generally recognized. There's no need for
> > physicists' usage of this to change, though it is certainly possible to
> > use it as you say. Tom Roberts
>
> You are too kind, mister Tom, not saying he talks nonsense. As he thinks
> that two infinitesimally separated points on a sphere are connected by a
> tangent, lol. A mathematical impossibility, no? Ok.

|Newsflash: that's not what I said. What I said was:
|1. "two infinitesimally separated points" is a metaphor, it's not valid
|mathematics. That metaphor is _very_ useful provided you have enough
|experience to know how to work with it correctly,

A lie, as usual from relativistic trash.
What you really said, is:
> Problem is, there is no such thing as "pair of infinitesimally-separated 
> points".

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#378522

FromJanPB <filmart@gmail.com>
Date2016-03-10 14:20 -0800
Message-ID<1a880906-be58-4831-982e-1e4955fbfbae@googlegroups.com>
In reply to#378520
On Thursday, March 10, 2016 at 1:50:03 PM UTC-8, Maciej Woźniak wrote:
> Użytkownik "JanPB"  napisał w wiadomości grup 
> dyskusyjnych:632cbe96-46cf-4646-ac83-7353c1262995@googlegroups.com...
> 
> 
> > > Yes, mathematicians are concerned with such issues.
> > > Physicists are not, and the issues you raise are not important in
> > > physics, because our manifolds are all well behaved and we don't insist
> > > on strict mathematical rigor. The usual line element _CAN_ be used to
> > > integrate distance along a line (path), and it _CAN_ be used to read off
> > > the metric components in the coordinates used. (IMHO this last is its
> > > primary use: as a succinct statement of the metric components.)
> > > Physicists' use of the line element became established well before the
> > > issues you raise were generally recognized. There's no need for
> > > physicists' usage of this to change, though it is certainly possible to
> > > use it as you say. Tom Roberts
> >
> > You are too kind, mister Tom, not saying he talks nonsense. As he thinks
> > that two infinitesimally separated points on a sphere are connected by a
> > tangent, lol. A mathematical impossibility, no? Ok.
> 
> |Newsflash: that's not what I said. What I said was:
> |1. "two infinitesimally separated points" is a metaphor, it's not valid
> |mathematics. That metaphor is _very_ useful provided you have enough
> |experience to know how to work with it correctly,
> 
> A lie, as usual from relativistic trash.
> What you really said, is:
> > Problem is, there is no such thing as "pair of infinitesimally-separated 
> > points".

You are a moron.

--
Jan

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#377923

FromThomas 'PointedEars' Lahn <PointedEars@web.de>
Date2016-03-05 05:24 +0100
Message-ID<56DA5F8C.7010402@PointedEars.de>
In reply to#377846
JanPB wrote:

> On Thursday, March 3, 2016 at 4:17:02 PM UTC-8, Thomas 'PointedEars'
> Lahn wrote:
>> JanPB wrote:
>>> On Sunday, February 28, 2016 at 3:13:08 AM UTC-8, Thomas
>>> 'PointedEars' Lahn wrote:
>> 
>> Attribution _line_, not attribution novel.

Which part of that did you not understand?

>>>> JanPB wrote:
>>>>> [...] Thomas 'PointedEars' Lahn wrote:
>>>>> […] The fact is that ds^2 is a tensor, not a number.
>>>>                                         ^^^^^^^^^^^^

>>>>  How did you get that idea?
>>> It's the definition.
>> Proof by assertion.
> Sorry, this just is the definition of ds^2. I cannot change it.

We have already determined that there is not one single correct definition,
so it is not *the* definition, but *a* definition (that you are using).

>>> You don't believe me?
>> No, as always, I have to see evidence supporting your opinion.
> Pick any book on differential geometry (not an undergraduate hand-waving 
> text though), e.g.:
> 
> Barrett O'Neill: "Semi-Riemannian Geometry",
> […]
> etc.

Insufficient.  You need to *cite* your sources to substantiate your claims.
Citing means referring to the *exact* statement that does this.  (If you are
who you claim you are, you know this already.)

> You said it was a scalar. So it must be a well-defined number at each 
> point of the sphere. What number is it? What's the formula? Be precise.

Your logic is still flawed.

>>>> But "ds" alone does _not_ define the geometry;
>>> Since we differ what the symbol "ds" means, we won't agree here.
>> Non sequitur.
> So now we DO agree what the symbol "ds" means?

No, we do not.  For one, I am willing to accept the possibility that it does
not have only one meaning, while you do not.

> I'll take your non-sequitur and raise it to falsehood then :-) Make up 
> your mind!

I have not changed my mind.  Look up the meaning of “non sequitur”.  (Again,
if you are who you claim you are, you should not have to.)

>> But *that* [ds] "*defines* the geometry" is only your idea.  So whether 
>> your preference in terminology is justified is an open issue at this 
>> point.
> It's not open to debate.

Apparently it is.

> […] in the context of _differential geometry_. There exist different 
> concepts of "geometry", some of them not related to calculus on
> manifolds at all. They are not relevant to GR.

We are not discussing GR, and as for “differential geometry”, you have still
not substantiated that.

>>> […] The phrase "ds^2 is just a scalar that represents the 
>>> geometry" is wrong: it's not a scalar, it's a rank-2 tensor.
>> As for that, I refer you to Tom Robert's excellent explanation in the 
>> upper part¹ of <news:tfKdndZl7qz9PkXLnZ2dnUU7_8zNnZ2d@giganews.com> ,
>> and rest my case. (We are both correct in our respective
>> interpretations.)
> I disagree because you still haven't shown me any viable alternative

Why should I repeat what Tom said?  Can’t you read?

> except metaphors like "infinitesimal distance" and the like.

If you cared to read *properly*, I have written (and quoted) “infinitesimal
(infinitely small) change”.

>>> It's a scalar only in the sense that when it's operating of a pair of
>>                                                 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>>> vectors, it [...]
>>  ^^^^^^^
>> What does that mean?
> Good grief. OK, I'll stop here.

Posting gibberish?  That would be advisable indeed.  Post in proper language
then.  “it’s operating of a pair of vectors” is _not_.

(You did use a fixed-width font for display as it is advisable in Usenet —
to understand those markings, for example –, yes?)


PointedEars

.
.
.
.
.
.
.

-- 
“Science is empirical: knowing the answer means nothing;
 testing your knowledge means everything.”
   —Dr. Lawrence M. Krauss, theoretical physicist,
    in “A Universe from Nothing” (2009)

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#377927

FromJanPB <filmart@gmail.com>
Date2016-03-04 21:36 -0800
Message-ID<9a29e27b-001a-4c49-9c4a-7a112b24ee2f@googlegroups.com>
In reply to#377923
On Friday, March 4, 2016 at 8:24:45 PM UTC-8, Thomas 'PointedEars' Lahn wrote:
> JanPB wrote:
> 
> > On Thursday, March 3, 2016 at 4:17:02 PM UTC-8, Thomas 'PointedEars'
> > Lahn wrote:
> >> JanPB wrote:
> >>> On Sunday, February 28, 2016 at 3:13:08 AM UTC-8, Thomas
> >>> 'PointedEars' Lahn wrote:
> >> 
> >> Attribution _line_, not attribution novel.
> 
> Which part of that did you not understand?

I didn't write this.

> >>>> JanPB wrote:
> >>>>> [...] Thomas 'PointedEars' Lahn wrote:
> >>>>> [...] The fact is that ds^2 is a tensor, not a number.
> >>>>                                         ^^^^^^^^^^^^
> 
> >>>>  How did you get that idea?
> >>> It's the definition.
> >> Proof by assertion.
> > Sorry, this just is the definition of ds^2. I cannot change it.
> 
> We have already determined that there is not one single correct definition,

No, we haven't determined that.

> so it is not *the* definition, but *a* definition (that you are using).

It is *the* definition. There is no other one. Everything else you might hear are metaphors.
Again, I'm not saying metaphors are bad or useless, only that they are not definitions. 

> >>> You don't believe me?
> >> No, as always, I have to see evidence supporting your opinion.
> > Pick any book on differential geometry (not an undergraduate hand-waving 
> > text though), e.g.:
> > 
> > Barrett O'Neill: "Semi-Riemannian Geometry",
> > [...]
> > etc.
> 
> Insufficient.

Sufficient.

> You need to *cite* your sources to substantiate your claims.

No.

> Citing means referring to the *exact* statement that does this.  (If you are
> who you claim you are, you know this already.)

No. Just look up the references.

> > You said it was a scalar. So it must be a well-defined number at each 
> > point of the sphere. What number is it? What's the formula? Be precise.
> 
> Your logic is still flawed.

No. Answer the question.

> >>>> But "ds" alone does _not_ define the geometry;
> >>> Since we differ what the symbol "ds" means, we won't agree here.
> >> Non sequitur.
> > So now we DO agree what the symbol "ds" means?
> 
> No, we do not.  For one, I am willing to accept the possibility that it does
> not have only one meaning, while you do not.

ds^2 has only one meaning as far as the actual definition of this object is concerned.
Again, I'm not denying that useful paraphrases exist.

[...]

> >> But *that* [ds] "*defines* the geometry" is only your idea.  So whether 
> >> your preference in terminology is justified is an open issue at this 
> >> point.
> > It's not open to debate.
> 
> Apparently it is.

No.

> > [...] in the context of _differential geometry_. There exist different 
> > concepts of "geometry", some of them not related to calculus on
> > manifolds at all. They are not relevant to GR.
> 
> We are not discussing GR, and as for "differential geometry", you have still
> not substantiated that.

We are not discussing GR? That's news to me. What are we discussing then?
Also, there is nothing to "substantiate", it's what ds^2 is.

[...]

> > except metaphors like "infinitesimal distance" and the like.
> 
> If you cared to read *properly*, I have written (and quoted) "infinitesimal
> (infinitely small) change".

It's a metaphor. Nothing wrong with that, just keep in mind it doesn't define anything.
One can get quite far using only metaphors (see Newton!) but at some point one reaches
a point of crisis.

> >>> It's a scalar only in the sense that when it's operating of a pair of
> >>                                                 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> >>> vectors, it [...]
> >>  ^^^^^^^
> >> What does that mean?
> > Good grief. OK, I'll stop here.
> 
> Posting gibberish?  That would be advisable indeed.  Post in proper language
> then.  "it's operating of a pair of vectors" is _not_.

No. If you don't know what I'm saying here then I'll stop because I cannot type in an
entire math class here.

--
Jan

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#377930

FromKoobee Wublee <koobee.wublee@gmail.com>
Date2016-03-04 22:50 -0800
Message-ID<627d15ea-0b23-4c0e-b95c-ede8f6da3087@googlegroups.com>
In reply to#377927
On Friday, March 4, 2016 at 9:36:48 PM UTC-8, JanPB wrote:

> If you don't know what I'm saying here then I'll stop because I
> cannot type in an entire math class here.

You don't have to type in the entire math class.  There are plenty of elementary books to teach you.  You might find the following list of books educational in helping you to understand what equality means in math.  <shrug>

https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=2nd+grade+math+textbook&tbm=shop&spd=14442141523518876256

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#377934

FromThomas 'PointedEars' Lahn <PointedEars@web.de>
Date2016-03-05 11:24 +0100
Message-ID<56DAB3E8.3010808@PointedEars.de>
In reply to#377927
JanPB wrote on 05.03.2016 06:36:
> On Friday, March 4, 2016 at 8:24:45 PM UTC-8, Thomas 'PointedEars' Lahn wrote:
>> JanPB wrote:
>>> On Thursday, March 3, 2016 at 4:17:02 PM UTC-8, Thomas 'PointedEars'
>>> Lahn wrote:
>>>> JanPB wrote:
>>>>> On Sunday, February 28, 2016 at 3:13:08 AM UTC-8, Thomas
>>>>> 'PointedEars' Lahn wrote:
>>>> Attribution _line_, not attribution novel.
>> Which part of that did you not understand?
> 
> I didn't write this.

Of course not, I did, implicitly asking you to trim your attributions so
that they do not exceed one line (and are making discussions in which you
participate harder to read).  Can you not even discern quotation levels now?

>>>>>> JanPB wrote:
>>>>>>> [...] Thomas 'PointedEars' Lahn wrote:
>>>>>>> [...] The fact is that ds^2 is a tensor, not a number.
>>>>>>                                           ^^^^^^^^^^^^
>>
>>>>>>  How did you get that idea?
>>>>> It's the definition.
>>>> Proof by assertion.
>>> Sorry, this just is the definition of ds^2. I cannot change it.
>>
>> We have already determined that there is not one single correct definition,
> 
> No, we haven't determined that.

Well, we, Tom Roberts and I at least, have.  You just do not accept the
fact.  A very basic fact at that: for every term there can be more than one
definition.  Until you do it is a waste of time to continue discussing this
with you.

-- 
PointedEars

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#377979

FromJanPB <filmart@gmail.com>
Date2016-03-05 20:07 -0800
Message-ID<ea1c5c3d-1a75-44dc-951c-a1b31fe4b667@googlegroups.com>
In reply to#377934
On Saturday, March 5, 2016 at 2:24:43 AM UTC-8, Thomas 'PointedEars' Lahn wrote:
> JanPB wrote on 05.03.2016 06:36:
> > On Friday, March 4, 2016 at 8:24:45 PM UTC-8, Thomas 'PointedEars' Lahn wrote:
> >> JanPB wrote:
> >>> On Thursday, March 3, 2016 at 4:17:02 PM UTC-8, Thomas 'PointedEars'
> >>> Lahn wrote:
> >>>> JanPB wrote:
> >>>>> On Sunday, February 28, 2016 at 3:13:08 AM UTC-8, Thomas
> >>>>> 'PointedEars' Lahn wrote:
> >>>> Attribution _line_, not attribution novel.
> >> Which part of that did you not understand?
> > 
> > I didn't write this.
> 
> Of course not, I did, implicitly asking you to trim your attributions so
> that they do not exceed one line (and are making discussions in which you
> participate harder to read).  Can you not even discern quotation levels now?

I don't know what you are talking about.

> >>>>>> JanPB wrote:
> >>>>>>> [...] Thomas 'PointedEars' Lahn wrote:
> >>>>>>> [...] The fact is that ds^2 is a tensor, not a number.
> >>>>>>                                           ^^^^^^^^^^^^
> >>
> >>>>>>  How did you get that idea?
> >>>>> It's the definition.
> >>>> Proof by assertion.
> >>> Sorry, this just is the definition of ds^2. I cannot change it.
> >>
> >> We have already determined that there is not one single correct definition,
> > 
> > No, we haven't determined that.
> 
> Well, we, Tom Roberts and I at least, have.

You can agree all you want, it still won't make infinitesimals into legal mathematical objects
(unless you are talking about non-standard analysis - let me know if you do so I can stop
pointing this out).

> You just do not accept the fact.

What fact? Infinitesimals do not exist, they are only metaphors (unless the non-standard... etc.)
That's a simple well-known fact. I'm powerless to change it.

> A very basic fact at that: for every term there can be more than one
> definition.

Depends what you mean by "more then one". Give me another definitions of ds^2 that's
not relying on infinitesimals (they are illegal, remember). Other than symmetric rank-2 tensor
(or a quadratic form) there is no "more than one definition".

> Until you do it is a waste of time to continue discussing this
> with you.

Just tell me what other definition there is. Just don't use infinitesimals and I'll be happy.

--
Jan

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#377818

FromTom Roberts <tjroberts137@sbcglobal.net>
Date2016-03-03 14:49 -0600
Message-ID<tfKdndZl7qz9PkXLnZ2dnUU7_8zNnZ2d@giganews.com>
In reply to#377393
On 2/28/16 2/28/16   5:13 AM, Thomas 'PointedEars' Lahn wrote:
> JanPB wrote:
>> It is. Maybe we simply differ in our tolerance to using loose terminology.

Yes, you two do differ on that. As do I.

>> The fact is that ds^2 is a tensor, not a number.

Yes. For the simple reason that JanPB wrote the equations and described his 
notation so that ds^2 is a tensor.

But that is not the only interpretation of that notation, nor even the most 
common meaning.

In general, one writes

	ds^2 = g_ij dx^i dx^j

This can be interpreted TWO COMPLETELY DIFFERENT WAYS:
  A) the old/original meaning is that this is a line element, representing
     an infinitesimal distance along the line defined by {dx^i} (which are
     elementary differentials). So each of the {dx^i} is a (infinitesimal)
     real number, as are ds and ds^2 (= (ds)^2); the {g_ij} are a set of
     real numbers which are the components of the metric tensor (implicitly
     a function of position on the manifold). One must of course integrate
     along the line to obtain the square of the distance between any given
     pair of points on the line.
  B) the modern interpretation as JanPB described: ds^2 is a rank-2 tensor,
     d is the exterior derivative, the {x^i} are the usual coordinate
     functions on the manifold, the tensor product on the RHS is implicit,
     the {g_ij} are a set of real numbers which are the components of the
     metric tensor (implicitly a function of position on the manifold), and
     "ds^2" is purely a funny name for a tensor to make it LOOK like the
     old meaning, with no relationship to either squaring or derivative.
     This is a rank-2 tensor, and does not represent distance at all (but
     it can be used to determine distance along a specified line).

	[In neither case does g_ij represent the metric tensor; it is
	 the COMPONENTS of the metric tensor.]

In my experience, (A) is far more common than (B). I dislike (B) because of its 
rather unusual fudging the notation to make a PUN.


>> And I don't approve of statements like "X represents the geometry" - what
>> does it mean? If X defines the geometry, that's how it should be phrased.

Yes. And X only defines the geometry when X is the metric tensor, because that 
_IS_ what defines the geometry [#]. We normally use the symbol g, or g(.,.), or 
g_ij for its components, not X.

	[#] At least in physics. In mathematics there is more flexibility.


> But “ds” alone does _not_ define the geometry;

See above. ds (A) indeed does not define the geometry (because it is neither the 
metric tensor nor its components). But of course the components of the metric 
can be easily extracted from the RHS by inspection. Note that ds^2 (B) _IS_ the 
metric tensor and DOES define the geometry.


>           (c²  0   0   0)
>    g_µν = (0  −1   0   0)
>           (0   0  −1   0)
>           (0   0   0  −1)
> (which – surprise! – *is* also a matrix indeed).

Hmmmm. Yes, the {g_µν} you give are a matrix. They are NOT the metric tensor, 
but rather its components. Those components are a set of real numbers which can 
of course be converted into the metric tensor g:

	g = g_ij dx^i dx^j

where the {dx^i} are the coordinate one-forms (i.e. the exterior derivative d 
applied to the coordinate functions {x^i}).

	This looks a lot like JanPB's equation, except it avoids
	fudging the notation and does not involve a PUN.


In short, you two are arguing about TERMINOLOGY AND NOTATION, not anything of 
substance (on which all three of us clearly agree, once the terminological 
differences are resolved).


Tom Roberts

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#377822

FromHelénē Swanhild <helenes@gardenclosure.org>
Date2016-03-03 21:40 +0000
Message-ID<nbab0c$cee$1@gioia.aioe.org>
In reply to#377818
Tom Roberts wrote:

> On 2/28/16 2/28/16   5:13 AM, Thomas 'PointedEars' Lahn wrote:
>> JanPB wrote:
>>> It is. Maybe we simply differ in our tolerance to using loose
>>> terminology.
> 
> Yes, you two do differ on that. As do I.
> 
>>> The fact is that ds^2 is a tensor, not a number.
> 
> Yes. For the simple reason that JanPB wrote the equations and described
> his notation so that ds^2 is a tensor.
> 
> But that is not the only interpretation of that notation, nor even the
> most common meaning.
> 
> In general, one writes
> 
> 	ds^2 = g_ij dx^i dx^j
> 
> This can be interpreted TWO COMPLETELY DIFFERENT WAYS:
>   A) the old/original meaning is that this is a line element,
>   representing
>      an infinitesimal distance along the line defined by {dx^i} (which
>      are elementary differentials). So each of the {dx^i} is a
>      (infinitesimal) real number, as are ds and ds^2 (= (ds)^2); the
>      {g_ij} are a set of real numbers which are the components of the
>      metric tensor (implicitly a function of position on the manifold).
>      One must of course integrate along the line to obtain the square of
>      the distance between any given pair of points on the line.
>   B) the modern interpretation as JanPB described: ds^2 is a rank-2
>   tensor,
>      d is the exterior derivative, the {x^i} are the usual coordinate
>      functions on the manifold, the tensor product on the RHS is
>      implicit, the {g_ij} are a set of real numbers which are the
>      components of the metric tensor (implicitly a function of position
>      on the manifold), and "ds^2" is purely a funny name for a tensor to
>      make it LOOK like the old meaning, with no relationship to either
>      squaring or derivative. This is a rank-2 tensor, and does not
>      represent distance at all (but it can be used to determine distance
>      along a specified line).
> 
> 	[In neither case does g_ij represent the metric tensor; it is
> 	 the COMPONENTS of the metric tensor.]

You said it was different. Where, they both have the same RHS. They are 
not so different, are they, LOL. Same RHS, remember.

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